Abstract: Inspection and identification of ignitable liquids were a key technology in the field of forensic technology. Ignitable liquids were of various types, and their residues were complicated because of being influenced by combustion mechanism and environmental conditions. Identification of types and sources of ignitable liquids with ignitable liquid residues from the scene was a challenge to test methods and data analysis. Recent research progress of identification technology of conventional and unconventional ignitable liquids, key influencing factors for identification of ignitable liquid residues, including bearing substrates of ignitable liquid, weathering, microbial degradation and acidification, and how to identify ignitable liquids according to their residues (44 ref. cited) were reviewed, which provided a reference for the inspection and analysis of ignitable liquids in the field of public security.